Modern Philosophy for Theology

This course is an introduction to modern philosophy for theology students who have had little or no philosophy. In this course, we will focus both on understanding key philosophical concepts relevant to theology and on developing philosophical skills. In the early weeks, each class will consist of a lecture on a thorny philosophical issue and a tutorial in which students actively work on acquiring and practising philosophical skills. In later weeks, students will lead discussions for the third hour. Throughout the course, philosophy is seen as a series of interpersonal communications (= asking good questions and formulating intelligent answers) rather than as a series of dogmatic pronouncements.
Authors to be studied include Descartes, Pascal, Hume, Kant, Marx, Kierkegaard, Darwin, Nietzsche, Wittgenstein, Levinas, Derrida, Lonergan and Kimmerer.